Patent application title: MODULAR FLASH MEMORY CARD EXPANSION SYSTEM

Abstract:

A memory card system is disclosed. The memory card system comprises at
least one flash memory card and a module for holding the at least one
memory card. The module comprises a plurality of supports. The supports
include rails to guide the at least one memory card in place and a latch
system for securing the at least one memory card to the module. The
present invention provides a modular flash memory card expansion system
using any standard Secure Digital card; the flash memory card can be any
flash-based memory card, such as SD, Compact Flash (CF), MMC, Memory
Stick or others.

Claims:

1. A memory card system;at least one memory card; anda module for holding
the at least one memory card, the module comprising a plurality of
supports, the supports including rails to guide the at least one memory
card in place, and a latch system for securing the at least one memory
card to the module.

2. The memory card system of claim 1, wherein the latch system comprises a
plurality of latches and a plurality of knobs for controlling the
latches.

3. The memory card system of claim 1, which includes at least one layer of
pins for electrically connecting the module to a printed circuit board.

4. The memory card system of claim 1 wherein when the plurality of latches
are in an open position at least one memory card can be removed from the
module and when the plurality of latches are in a closed position the at
least one memory card is secured to the module.

5. The memory card system of claim 4 wherein each of the pins comprise a
first curved portion; a second curved portion coupled to the first curved
portion and an end portion coupled to the second curved portion, wherein
when a flash memory card is inserted below a centerline of the pin, the
resulting direction will force the card to move downward and be in
contact with the first curved portion and cause the first curved portion
to move in an upward direction, wherein when a flash memory card is
coupled above a centerline of the pin, the resulting direction will force
the card to move upward and be in contact with the second curved portion
and cause the second curved portion to move in a downward direction,
wherein the pin is prevented from bending or being damaged; andwherein a
greater contact area surface is provided with the flash memory card.

6. The memory card system of claim 3 wherein the at least one layer of
pins comprises a plurality of layers.

7. The memory card system wherein the at least one memory card comprises a
flash memory card.

8. A flash memory card system;a printed circuit board;a plurality of flash
memory cards; anda module for holding the plurality of flash memory
cards, the module comprising a plurality of supports, the supports
including rails to guide the at least one memory card in place, and a
latch system for securing the at least one memory card to the module; and
wherein the latch system comprises a plurality of latches and a plurality
of knobs for controlling the latches; anda plurality of layers of pins
for electrically connecting the module to the printed circuit board, each
of the plurality of pins allowing for electrical connection of each of
the plurality of memory cards to the circuit board, wherein when the
plurality of latches are in an open position at least one memory card can
be removed from the module and when the plurality of latches are in a
closed position the at least one memory card is secured to the module;
wherein each of the pins comprise a first curved portion; a second curved
portion coupled to the first curved portion and an end portion coupled to
the second curved portion, wherein when a flash memory card is inserted
below a centerline of the pin, the resulting direction will force the
card to move downward and be in contact with the first curved portion and
cause the first curved portion to move in an upward direction and wherein
when a flash memory card is coupled above a centerline of the pin, the
resulting direction will force the card to move upward and be in contact
with the second curved portion and cause the second curved portion to
move in a downward direction wherein the pin is prevented from bending or
being damaged; andwherein a greater contact area surface is provided with
the flash memory card.

Description:

[0002]Flash memories are widely used memory devices in flash based
storage, portable storage devices, or multimedia storage systems. Larger
capacities and density are increasingly required. Typically in a
conventional storage system the flash memory (typically in the form of a
TSOP package) is soldered onto the printed circuit board (PCB). This
method not only poses a design challenge, but also lacks expandability
and manufacturability.

[0003]Prior art, U.S. Pat. No. 6,036,551, introduces a stackable connector
which allows for stacking several memory card connectors. The connector
has a housing which consists of a base, side walls, beams, and a slot to
receive the memory card. The terminals are supported by the base of the
housing. There are also ledges which align the connector to a connector
above and/or below it.

[0004]While this prior art addresses the stackable connector with reduced
thickness, it did not address the potential terminals being damaged or
bent by the memory card that is inserted between the top and bottom row
of terminals (due to the way the terminals structure).

[0005]The prior art has the slot to receive the memory card, but it also
did not address the way to lock the memory card in place.

[0006]Accordingly, what is desired is a system and method that addresses
the above-identified issues. The present invention addresses such a need.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0007]A memory card system is disclosed. The memory card system comprises
at least one flash memory card and a module for holding the at least one
memory card. The module comprises a plurality of supports. The supports
include rails to guide the at least one memory card in place and a latch
system for securing the at least one memory card to the module. The
present invention provides a modular flash memory card expansion system
using any standard Secure Digital card; the flash memory card can be any
flash-based memory card, such as SD, Compact Flash (CF), MMC, Memory
Stick or others.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0008]FIG. 1A shows a top view of a device using the modular flash memory
card expansion system.

[0009]FIG. 1B shows a top view of a device using the modular flash memory
card expansion system with a flash memory card being inserted.

[0010]FIG. 1C shows a side view of a device using the modular flash memory
card expansion system without latches.

[0011]FIG. 1D shows a side view of a device using the modular flash memory
card expansion system with latches.

[0013]FIG. 2B shows the modular flash memory card expansion system with
only one layer of pins.

[0014]FIG. 2C shows the pin structure.

[0015]FIG. 3A shows the latch system to secure the flash memory cards in
an open position.

[0016]FIG. 3B shows the latch system to secure the flash memory cards in a
closed position.

[0017]FIG. 3C shows the structure of the left latch.

[0018]FIG. 3D shows the structure of the right latch.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0019]The present invention relates generally to memory systems and more
specifically a flash memory card expansion system. The following
description is presented to enable one of ordinary skill in the art to
make and use the invention and is provided in the context of a patent
application and its requirements. Various modifications to the preferred
embodiments and the generic principles and features described herein will
be readily apparent to those skilled in the art. Thus, the present
invention is not intended to be limited to the embodiments shown, but is
to be accorded the widest scope consistent with the principles and
features described herein.

[0020]The modular flash memory card expansion system as shown in FIG. 1,
comprises a circuit board 10. This circuit board 10 can be a printed
circuit board, substrate, or others. A guided rail 12 to guide the flash
memory card 11. The flash memory card can be a Secure Digital card, or
any flash-based memory card, such as SD, compact flash (CF), MMC, Memory
Stick or others. A space-saving module with multiple-level of pins 22.
This module is designed to hold several flash memory cards in a small
space. The pins are attached directly to a printed circuit board, or
substrate, and held stably by an over molding process. This can be
expanded to create as many levels of pins as desired, thus holding as
many flash memory cards as desired. The flash memory cards are held
securely in place with the latch system. This design allows for many
flash memory cards to be easily attached for memory capacity expansion in
terms of ease of manufacturing, faster time to market, and provide a very
cost effective solution.

[0021]A system and method in accordance with the present invention
facilitates modular flash memory card expansion, such as Secure Digital
(SD), Compact Flash (CF), MMC, Memory Stick, or others. The backbone of
the system is a space saving module that allows and holds as many flash
memory cards as desired. To describe the features of the present
invention in more detail, refer now to the following in conjunction with
the accompanying figures.

[0022]FIG. 1A shows a top view of a device using the modular flash memory
card expansion system. All the components of the system are electrically
connected through a board 10 such as a printed circuit board (PCB) or
substrate. Controller 14 communicates with the host (not shown) through
interface 15 and all the flash memory cards 11. The host side interface
in this case is a serial ATA or SATA. The storage host interface can be
any type of IO interface including SATA, Serial Attached SCSI (SAS), PCI
Express, PATA, USB, Bluetooth, UWB or wireless interface. The flash
memory cards 11 are electrically connected through a special module 21.
FIG. 1B shows a top view of a device using the modular flash memory card
expansion system with a flash memory card 11 being inserted.

[0023]The first attribute of the space saving module 21 is the support 12
for the flash memory cards 11. FIG. 1C shows a side view of a device
using the modular flash memory card expansion system without latches.
Referring to FIG. 1C, the supports 12 have guided rails that guide the
flash memory cards 11 in position. Each support 12 also has knobs 13.
FIG. 1D shows a side view of a device using the modular flash memory card
expansion system with latches. As shown in FIG. 1D, the knobs 13 support
latches 31 and 32. The latches 31, 32 help secure the flash memory cards
11 properly when in a closed position.

[0024]FIG. 2A shows the modular flash memory card expansion system with
multiple-layer of pins. The pins 22, which make contact with the flash
memory cards 11, are attached to a space saving module 21. This module 21
electrically connects the pins 22 to the board 10. The module 21 also
securely holds the pins rigid by using an overmolding process, or the
like. FIG. 2B shows the modular flash memory card expansion system with
only one layer of pins. FIG. 2C shows the pin structure 22. When the
existing flash memory card 11 (not shown) is inserted below the
centerline 221 of the pin structure 221, the resulting direction between
the vector force 227 and vector 224 will automatically force the flash
memory card 11 (not shown) to move downward and contact with first curved
portion 226, and at the same time push up first curved portion 226. When
the upper level flash memory card 11 (not shown) is inserted above the
centerline 221, the resulting direction between the vector force 228 and
vector 225 will automatically force the flash memory card 11 (not shown)
to move upward, and at the same time push down the second curved portion
223. Thus, preventing the pin from bending or being damaged. With a
second curved portion 223 in a push down position, and the first curved
portion 226 in a push up position, it also provides the first curved
portion 226 with a much greater contact area surface with the flash
memory card 11. The end portion 229 is at a certain angle that points
outward to allow for more gap spacing.

[0025]FIG. 3A shows the latch system to secure the flash memory cards in
an open position, which allows the flash memory cards 11 to be removed.
FIG. 3B shows the latch system to secure the flash memory cards in a
closed position, which helps to secure the flash memory cards 11
properly. FIG. 3C shows the structure of the left latch 31. FIG. 3D shows
the structure of the right latch 32. An indent 30 is made to allow for
better grip when transitioning between close and open position.

[0026]The present invention addresses the modular flash memory card
expansion system from the following aspects:

[0031]5. Provide a simple way of memory expansion. Ease of manufacturing.

[0032]6. Provide a cost effective solution for memory expansion.

[0033]7. Faster time to market.

[0034]Although the present invention has been described in accordance with
the embodiments shown, one of ordinary skill in the art will readily
recognize that there could be variations to the embodiments and those
variations would be within the spirit and scope of the present invention.
Accordingly, many modifications may be made by one of ordinary skill in
the art without departing from the spirit and scope of the appended
claims.